With just one point to show over Easter, Wrexham
know that three points is a must at Barnet if we are to claw back the
seven point gap to safety. Both of our games over
Easter had contrasting performances with Wrexham deservedly getting no return from
our trip to Brentford last weekend but we should have taken all three
points against Dagenham on Monday, which makes our third successive game
against a London side a make or break one in our battle to retain our
Football League status.
Barnet did not help our cause last Monday when they
fell to a 3-0 defeat to our relegation rivals Macclesfield who have
opened a seven point gap on us and Mansfield along with Notts County.
The result left Barnet on forty-five points with eight
games to go and the Bees have now probably accumulated just enough points for
survival as they lie in the relative safety of sixteenth place.
The defeat to the Silkmen ended a run of two straight
wins at home to Chester 3-1 and a 5-2 thrashing over Lincoln last
Saturday.
The Bees started the season on the fringe of the play
offs but a combination of eight games without a win and five
straight defeats later on in the season left Barnet plummeting into the relegation battle, but
their recent two home victories have now stabilised matters.
Mark Birchall has regained the title of leading scorer
for Barnet after his brace against Lincoln took his tally to eleven for
the season in all competitions.
These goals have taken him ahead of Jason Puncheon, who is
one behind Birchall on ten, but the winger is without a goal since he
scored a hat trick against Dagenham at the end of December.
Manager Paul Fairclough celebrates four years in
charge of the Bees tomorrow and, during his time in charge at Underhill, has seen Barnet crowned Conference Champions in 2005 and looks set to
retain their league status for the second successive season.
Recent Encounters:
Barnet ran out comfortable 2-0 winners at the
Racecourse earlier on in the season with Liam Hatch scoring a second
half brace to claim all three points.
This was Barnet's first win over us since 1993 but
this was only the seventh game between the two sides since then.
Last season, Lee McEvilly scored a brace in the
corresponding fixture as we came from behind to record a crucial three
points and Mark Jones scored in the 1-1 draw at the Racecourse.
The overall head-to-head in the league sees us edge
Barnet with five wins to their four and there have been two draws in the
eleven games between the two sides.
Team News:
Wrexham again have injury problems in midfield with
Neil Roberts and Danny Sonner both ruled out, with Carl Tremarco and
Neil Taylor again doubtful with ankle and leg injuries respectively
Roberts has been struck down by a virus and Sonner is
again troubled with his Achilles and this means Jeff Whitley is a
certain starter in midfield.
Mike Williams has returned with no problems from
midweek duties with Wales Under 21s but Steve Evans and Rob Duffy are
not match fit after returning to training on Thursday.
Barnet captain Ismail Yakubu faces a late fitness test
on his hip injury but striker Cliff Akurang and goalkeeper Rob Beckwith
are out with hamstring injuries.
Good news for the Bees is that Jason Puncheon may make
a comeback.
Elsewhere in League Two:
The six pointer at the foot of the table sees
Mansfield travel to Notts County and the Stags are in a similar position
to us by trailing Notts County and Macclesfield by seven points.
Billy Dearden parted company with the Stags earlier on
this month and his assistant, Paul Holland, was initially offered a
caretaker role which was made permanent on Tuesday.
Macclesfield are the other team seven points ahead of
us in the table and they will fancy their chances of making it three
wins out of their last four games when they entertain Accrington Stanley
at Moss Rose. |